NAWCC Books

2010 Symposium - Williamsburg

Williamsburg – America’s colonial capital and the nation’s largest and most extensively restored eighteenth-century town is world-renowned for its public buildings, homes, stores, taverns, working trades, domestic crafts, and gardens. Experience the re-creation of colonial life in the mid-1700s.

Enjoy the splendor of the Governor’s Palace, home of seven royal governors and the first two Virginia governors. Visit the Capitol, the meeting place of the colonial legislature. Treasure the serene elegance of Bruton Parish Church. Walk in the footsteps of our founding fathers who laid the groundwork for a great nation.

Spend some extra time in Williamsburg to enjoy America’s colonial capital. The historic area encompasses 173 acres, 90 of which are gardens and greens. It has over 500 structures, 88 of which are original, with the rest accurately reconstructed on their original sites. Colonial Williamsburg Museums feature internationally acclaimed exhibits. Enjoy eighteenth-century dining in one of the restored taverns.

Plan to arrive a day or two early or stay later so you can enjoy the many amenities of Virginia’s historic triangle:WilliamsburgJamestown – the site of the first permanent English-speaking settlement.Yorktown – the place where America’s independence was won.

Take Exit 242-A Williamsburg/Jamestown exit. Follow Route 199 East 1.2 miles to Route 60 (sign reads Williamsburg/Jamestown). You will pass the Route 143 exit. You want to take the second exit to the right. Turn left at end of exit ramp onto Route 60 West. Follow Route 60 West for 1.2 miles. Turn left into driveway at Crowne Plaza Williamsburg at Fort Magruder.

The Crowne Plaza Williamsburg at Fort Magruder is a full-service hotel offering numerous amenities. Their restaurants offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The hotel is a short walk or drive to the restored area of Colonial Williamsburg.Rate $95 per room plus applicable taxes.

Make your reservations directly with the hotel by calling between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET. Mention the NAWCC Time Symposium when making reservations.

George Washington ate here... and Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Wythe, and dozens of others who were forging a new nation. Then, as now, each tavern had its own distinct personality and drew its own crowd of regulars. Shield’s, the simple, rustic charm of the 1740s. Christiana Campbell’s, George Washington’s favorite. King’s Arms, genteel and high mannered. Chowning’s, a slightly rowdy ale house.

Taverns then and now . . . In the eighteenth-century, Williamsburg’s taverns provided comfortable lodgings for travelers as well as serving as places to gather for meals, conversation, and entertainment. Proprietors prided themselves on serving filling meals using the freshest ingredients. Today, Colonial Williamsburg’s historic dining taverns carry on these traditions by providing a relaxed and comfortable setting for diners to experience some of the flavor of the eighteenth century – through atmosphere, entertainment, and food.

These taverns are the only places in the world where you can still get a taste of colonial comforts and camaraderie. Even the food and drink are much like Washington himself enjoyed over two centuries ago.

Chowning’s Tavern Lunch. Seating is on a space-available basis. Josiah Chowning opened his tavern in 1766 and appealed to the “ordinary sort.” Popular lore asserts that the modern sandwich has its origin in the eighteenth century and was named after John Montagu, the fourth earl of Sandwich. Today’s diners can partake of freshly prepared lunch fare featuring stew and sandwiches.

Christiana Campbell’s Tavern* Dinner. George Washington was a faithful customer of this establishment known for giving satisfaction to travelers and townspeople with a taste for seafood. Today, the tavern serves dishes inspired by those the founding fathers would have enjoyed during their travels throughout the colonies.

King’s Arms Tavern* Lunch, Dinner. When the King’s Arms Tavern opened in 1772, it became one of the town’s most genteel establishments. Present-day diners can savor traditional southern fare, sumptuous desserts, and after-dinner cordials in surroundings an eighteenth-century traveler would recognize.

Shields Tavern* Lunch, Dinner. In the early 1740s, James Shields assumed proprietorship of the tavern that his father-in-law had operated several decades earlier. Tavern guests today dine on southern comfort foods inspired by “colonial receipts.” The seasonal menu takes advantage of foodstuffs available from the local marketplace.